PCL: Jaguars whip Scorpions by seven wickets
SUMMARY: Jamaica 358 (Green 86, King 51; Rutherford 3-52, Permaul 3-76) and 132 (Fudadin 24, Walton 23, Blackwood 23; Motie 3-11, Reifer 3-36) lost to Guyana Jaguars 321 (Singh 61, Johnson 58; Taylor 3-27, Bulli 3-91) and 171-3 (Johnson 61*, Hemraj 42; Williams 1-20) by seven wickets
Guyana Jaguars have moved within a victory of securing a fifth consecutive title after they disposed of Jamaica Scorpions by seven wickets on the final day of their Four-day clash at the National Stadium, Providence. The fifth victory for this season ended Jaguars’ two defeats on the trot.
Resuming the chase of 170 from their overnight position of 25-0, they reached the target in 43 overs, thanks largely to captain Leon Johnson, who made his second fifty in the seventh round contest.
Johnson made a solid 58 in the first innings and got three more in his second outing, but this landmark was more fluent and showed characteristics of the Test batsman who was at the pinnacle of the regional run-scorers in one season (2015-16).
Windies batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj looked to have returned to this free-flowing best with a shot-filled 42 from 29 balls, an innings which included seven fours and one maximum. His rush of blood continued and he was out-foxed by elder statesman Jerome Taylor via a good catch by Brandon King.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul who made 33, also presented the full face of the bat with some languid drives and added 57 for the first wicket with Hemraj until off-spinner Kenroy Williams rattled him on the pad.
Sherfane Rutherford did not maximise on another shot of the promotion to number three, being bowled by Derval Green for five. Vishaul Singh ensured there were no further casualties as he cheesed his way to an unbeaten 27 to back up his first innings 61.
Jaguars will have a break this weekend before flying to Jamaica for a clash with the host at Sabina Park from February 21-24.
